CONGO — At least 87 deaths have been reported in Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday, warning of active community transmission as health workers intensified screening and contact tracing efforts.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola. While it does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic declaration, countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo are considered at high risk for further spread, according to the WHO.
Outbreak spreads to Uganda
Uganda confirmed Friday that it had recorded an Ebola case imported from Congo. Health officials said the patient died at Kibuli Muslim Hospital in Kampala on May 14.
The WHO’s emergency declaration is intended to strengthen international surveillance and response efforts. It also means people infected with, or suspected of exposure to, Ebola should avoid travel.
The Africa CDC has expressed concern about possible spread to neighboring Uganda and South Sudan because of the affected region’s proximity to both countries.
Uganda’s Health Ministry said the patient’s body was later returned to Congo and that no additional local cases have been confirmed.
Authorities in Kenya said Saturday there remains only a moderate risk of Ebola entering the country through regional travel. Kenya has since formed an Ebola preparedness team and strengthened surveillance at entry points.
Fear grows among residents
Residents in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, described growing fears as deaths continued to rise.
“Every day, people are dying … and this has been going on for about a week. In a single day, we bury two, three or even more people,” resident Jean Marc Asimwe said.
Ebola spreads through bodily fluids including blood, vomit, and semen. The disease is rare but highly contagious and often fatal.
Officials initially announced the outbreak Friday with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases. By Saturday, the Africa CDC reported 336 suspected cases and 13 confirmed infections. Four deaths were among the confirmed cases.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said the outbreak began in the Mongwalu health zone, a busy mining area, before spreading to Rwampara and Bunia as patients sought treatment.
Kaseya said many active cases remain in the community, particularly in Mongwalu, complicating containment efforts.
Violence in Ituri province, where Islamic State-linked militants continue to carry out attacks, has also hindered surveillance and emergency response operations.
Of the reported deaths, 57 were recorded in Mongwalu, 27 in Rwampara and three in Bunia.
Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said tests confirmed the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a less common variant in Congo’s outbreak history. This marks Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified there in 1976.
Kamba said the suspected index case was a nurse who died at a hospital in Bunia after showing Ebola-like symptoms around April 24.
Logistical and security challenges
Congo has extensive experience managing Ebola outbreaks but continues to face major logistical difficulties because of its size and ongoing armed conflict.
Ituri province is roughly 1,000 kilometers from the capital, Kinshasa, and remains heavily affected by militant violence.
Health officials said only 13 blood samples had been tested so far at the National Institute of Biomedical Research. Eight tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain, while five others could not be analyzed because of insufficient sample volume.
Despite the outbreak, daily activities in Bunia continued largely as normal Friday.
Resident Adeline Awekonimungu urged authorities to take stronger action.
“My recommendation is that the government take this matter seriously and that it takes charge of the hospitals so that this matter can be brought under control,” she said.